Sunday, October 12, 2008

As a web designer or developer building a site, it’s helpful to first scout similar websites (i.e. the competition) to help you make design and development decisions. Knowing what websites work and which ones tank can give you insights and inspiration on what design elements, website features, and website content is effective.

Three days before the Canadian elections, the party leader of the New Democrats has spoken out in favor of BitTorrent sites, calling them “fundamental to democracy.” At the same time, isoHunt, the largest Canadian BitTorrent site advises its users not to vote for the Conservatives, considering their stance on copyright issues.

The Army is buying five of the truck-mounted systems for $25 million. But the energy weapon may face new hurdles, before it's shipped off to the battlefield; a new report details how the supposedly non-lethal blaster could be turned into a flesh-frying killer.

A bug which lives entirely on its own and survives without oxygen in complete darkness underground has been discovered in South Africa. Desulforudis audaxviator, or bold traveller as it is known in English, relies on water, hydrogen and sulfate for its energy.

It looks like a lunar landscape but this remarkable photograph actually shows our Milky Way and the planet Jupiter in all their glory - viewed from a cave in America's Utah desert. The spiral galaxy, which cannot be seen with the naked eye, was captured using a 35mm camera and 50mm lens on a tripod with a 30-second exposure.

The United States on Saturday removed North Korea from its list of states that sponsor terrorism, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said. McCormack said the United States and North Korea had reached agreement "on an number of important verification measures" of North Korea's nuclear program.

A month ago, the Iranian parliament voted in favour of a draft bill, entitled "Islamic Penal Code", which would codify the death penalty for any male Iranian who leaves his Islamic faith. Women would get life imprisonment. The majority in favour of the new law was overwhelming: 196 votes for, with just seven against...

It has plummeted nearly 40% in just three months, from about $147 a barrel in July to below $83 on Friday, with no obvious bottom in sight. If that sounds good, you are probably a driver who winces these days at filling your gas tank. But the downward spiral could mean trouble for oil-rich countries and for the environment.

A photo just surfaced from 1996 featuring a group of New Party Socialist candidates posing together after impressive election wins in Chicago. Bloggers New Zeal and The Big Feed discovered this photo of Barack Obama and other New Party socialists including Danny K Davis (centre), from the front page of New Party News, Spring 1996:

Writing an English paper or working on a literary thesis but do not know where to get started? Then here are 14 websites that will point you in the right direction and help you find what you need. Some sites are free to use and others, you need to pay or get access code from your school or library.

Friday, October 10, 2008

Your mobile phone beeps, you have received a text message.It begins: "I swear, I will make sure I give you HIV..."But it's not an abusive threat, it's a "romantic" text message copied from a book on sale all over Nigeria that professes to give young people the words they need to court the woman or man of their dreams.

The governments of Montenegro and Macedonia have formally recognised Kosovo as independent following its secession from Serbia in February. Nearly 50 countries have recognised Kosovo's independence so far.

Thursday, October 9, 2008

The anti-Semitic belief that all Jews are Zionists and therefore all Jews are fair game in the war against Israel - itself simply another round of the age-old war against the Jews - allows anti-Semites to obfuscate the fact that their anti-Israel rhetoric is simply warmed over Jew-hatred. People like Iranian leaders Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

A Independent Task Force completed its year long investigation at UCI. Over 80 hours of interviews, as well as, documents, written complaints and numerous visits to the campus were used in the compilation of the subsequent Report and Recommendations. The report concludes that in UCI, Anti-Semitism is growing and is at an all time high.

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

President Viktor Yushchenko of Ukraine has dissolved parliament weeks after the collapse of the country's ruling pro-Western coalition. The coalition collapsed after Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko backed a move to reduce the president's powers.

The IAF is the fourth largest Air Force in the world. It boasts of a highly technical and specialized fighting force that safeguards the country's skies against enemy invasions as well as steps in for rescue operations during crisis.

Mozilla, the company behind the Firefox browser, has released technology that helps websites detect the physical location of computers. Users will have control over how much location information they give. It uses technology from a firm called Skyhook which works out a computer's location from nearby wireless networks.

The UN General Assembly has voted to refer Kosovo's independence declaration to the International Court of Justice. The ICJ will be asked to give an advisory, non-binding opinion on the legality of Kosovo's declaration of independence from Serbia in February. Seventy-seven countries voted in favour, six against and 74 abstained.

Indian stocks fell to a two-year low on Wednesday amid fears the credit crunch could lead to global recession. The falling stocks also affected the Indian rupee, which sank to 47.9 against the US dollar.

McCain remains a formidable presence - a tough debater relentlessly on the attack. But he needed a knockdown Tuesday night to help change the narrative of the campaign. At the end, Obama was still standing, and smiling.

If you bought a house in the last five years and you’re reading about too many disappointing news regarding the real estate industry in the US, you’re probably wondering how much your house is worth today. You’re also wondering if the situation will get any better soon.

A member of the audience wanted to know how each candidate would respond to Iran attacking Israel. McCain said he would defend Israel militarily. Obama provided a long winded response and ultimately revealed that he wouldn't necessarily back Israel but instead rely on diplomacy.

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Live second presidential debate with text..."Alison Mann, an undecided US voter on BBC World TV, says she is disappointed and still undecided. Another US swing voter, Michael Clearly, says the candidates seemed more interested in attacking one another than addressing the issues."

The US presidential hopefuls have set out their economic policies in a debate dominated by the financial crisis. Mr McCain said Mr Obama wanted to raise taxes. He said he would order the US Treasury Secretary to buy up "bad" mortgage loans, helping create jobs.

Habeas Corpus Restored - 7 sworn-enemies of the U.S. released INTO the U.S. - Wait, what ?!?The White House said the ruling could set a precedent that would allow "sworn enemies" to seek US entry. Analysts say the ruling is a rebuke for the US government and could set the stage for the release of dozens more detained at the military jail in Cuba INTO the U.S.

In this song, Jewish-Israeli and Palestinian singers and musicians joined together to perform the Hebrew-Arabic song "Hevenu Shalom Aleinu" (We Brought Peace Upon Us) - "Ma Ana Ajmal Min Salam" (There is Nothing More Beautiful Than Peace).

Indian economy is growing and more Indian companies are emerging into the international market. Now India has the most billionaires in Asia and hosts four of the top 10 richest billionaires in the world. I am proud to present the top five richest Indian billionaires in the world and leaders in the corporate world.

Monday, October 6, 2008

This highly respected song was written in 1963 by Israeli poem writer Naomi Shemer. She probably never imagined it would be sung over at Music (Bulgarian) Idol by a hot young blond Bulgarian woman (Preslava Peycheva). But turns out this woman, who seems like she just memorized the Hebrew words by heart, may be responsible for the best performance of this song ever.

This video is a mix of the Yerushalayim song off the upcoming album and the side story of an American boy visiting Israel with his zeide. The grandson in the video is the "popular" Cantor Simcha Levinstein who sings in the choir.

Sunday, October 5, 2008

It's a high stakes clash which can change the dynamics in the race for the White House. Critics target Palin for being less experienced in matters of foreign and domestic policy. Biden has been part of the Senate since 1972. But where the Republican candidate loses in experience, she makes up for with her charismatic style of speaking.

Barely a month after a nun was raped, a 20-year-old girl was raped by four men on September 21 in Bopanmendi village. Many criminals in Kandhamal are simply taking advantage of the volatile situation in the district and are committing heinous crimes in the name of religion.

A prominent Maoist leader on Saturday claimed responsibility for the murder of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) swami Laxmanand Saraswati and four others, which had sparked off large-scale anti-Christian violence in Orissas Kandhamal district in August.

The Indian military will now have 140 more Generals and over 1,700 more Brigadiers and Colonels.Creating more room at the top without any increase in military formations could mean that Generals would have even shorter tenures as Commanders.

Saturday, October 4, 2008

IF ANALOGIES with the Great Depression are scary for Americans, they are hardly less so for Latin Americans. Within a few years of the 1929 stockmarket crash, 16 governments in the region fell to military coups or takeovers by strongmen. In recent years the talk has mostly been of Latin America’s economic independence from its big neighbour in the north (with the exception of Mexico).

A prominent Maoist leader on Saturday claimed responsibility for the murder of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) swami Laxmanand Saraswati and four others, which had sparked off large-scale anti-Christian violence in Orissa’s Kandhamal district in August.Speaking from an undisclosed location, Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda told two Oriya news channels that their outfit decided to kill Saraswati because he was spreading “social unrest”.

Asif Ali Zardari used to sport a full moustache, jet black and rakish in the style of the avid polo player he once was. But sometime in the past year he trimmed it short and let its salt-and-pepper colors show. It befits the sober role he has now assumed, at 53, as the president of Pakistan, probably the world's most difficult -- and dangerous -- political job.

The bodies of 10 more murder victims have been found by police in the Mexican city of Tijuana, where gang violence has escalated recently. State prosecutors have blamed the killings on a drugs turf war.

Speaking to supporters in Colorado and later in a Los Angeles suburb, Alaska Governor Palin attacked Senator Obama over his link to Bill Ayers, a founder of the militant group Weather Underground, that waged a violent campaign against the Vietnam War. Mrs Palin described Mr Obama as someone who saw the US "as being so imperfect... he is palling around with terrorists who would target their own country".

The British ambassador to Washington has described US presidential hopeful Barack Obama as "highly intelligent" but at times "aloof", reports say. Sir Nigel Sheinwald also said Mr Obama was untested and if elected would "have less of a track record than any recent president", the Daily Telegraph said.

Thursday, October 2, 2008

Found the debate to be rather interesting, myself. How do you think it went?Palin's performance tonight may silence critics who suggest she is fit only for the stage at Wasilla Town Hall. Her "betchas", "doggones" and "darnits" will no doubt have played well with many voters. But has she done enough to reverse the Republican ticket's recent move south in polls?

Three men have been charged with conspiring to damage the home and office of a man due to publish a novel about the Prophet Muhammad. Where is Freedom of Speech? In a society that holds up its Freedoms of Speech and Religion, the notion of "tolerance" as a general blanket is being used to destroy these freedoms and instill fear. Martin Rynja of publisher Gibson Square had been planning to release The Jewel of Medina in the UK this month. Publication of the novel by American author Sherry Jones about Muhammad and his child bride was canceled in the US in August by publisher Random House, which feared it could offend Muslims.

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

The explosions occurred in quick succession in busy markets in the state capital Agartala and injured 70 others. Recently India has been witnessing a dramatic rise in Islamic Jihadist bombings throughout various states in India. Witnesses say that two unexploded bombs were found in the town later, adding to the panic.

The Awakening - or Sahwa in Arabic - movement consists of former insurgents who used to fight alongside al-Qaeda in Iraq. Now they fight against them and with the Americans and the Iraqi forces. The plan is to incorporate Awakening members - mainly Sunni Arab former insurgents who now fight against al-Qaeda extremists - into the Iraqi armed forces, but only 20% of them.The rest - tens of thousands of men who have been defending their communities - will continue to get their wages, until they find civilian jobs.

Mayor Palin didn't become Governor by magic; she fought a tough debate against Democrat Andrew Halcro in 2006... and won. Halcro, lifelong lawmaker and graduate of Harvard's Kennedy School of Government said "No matter how knowledgeable her opponents were, it didn't matter. She has an amazing ability to turn a 45 second answer into a folksy story."Nearly 55 million viewers tuned into the presidential debate last Thursday, and with more than usual focus on the vice-presidential candidates in this election, Mr Biden and Mrs Palin can expect to have a lot of eyes watching them.

The period of 1760 to 1851 was marked by huge leaps in the technological and industrial fronts of man and gave rise to the manufacturing powerhouse of Western nations in Europe. Such growth was in effect a byproduct of numerous influences and has profound impact on the world as we now know today.